Written by Mrs. FLS

This is part I of series on how to save money on the LSAT.

To begin with, I hated the LSAT. For six months of my life it consumed me. It was my introduction to how law school makes you doubt your capabilities and self worth. It also introduced me to how expensive law school is. The test itself costs over $100 and there are several prep programs out there that cost thousands of dollars. My goal today is to give some tips on how to prepare for this dreaded test without it letting it beat you or your pocket book.

Take a free diagnostic test from LSAC. You need to know where you’re at, so you can plan your studying. If you have anything above a 155 you’re doing alright. You can get into several schools with that kind of score.

If after you take the test and you did poorly (below a 155) , don’t get down! You can improve dramatically with some work. The LSAT is a VERY learnable test. I started out at a 148 and ended up scoring a 161 on the real deal. So, keep your chin up.

If you took the test and did well (above a 160), congratulations. However, there’s still room for improvement. You studying will be more focused then the people who didn’t do so well.

DON’T sign up for LSAT prep classes. Kaplan can set you back over $1,000. Same with Princeton Review. Additionally, their programs suck. I bought some of their books on strategy and none of it helped me. Several people in my law school section have said that they forked over a ton of money on these programs and ended up making the same score on the test as they did on the diagnostic test. Again, prep classes are a waste of time and money.

If you want to save money, you’re going to have to DIY (Do It Yourself). This takes self discipline and self motivation. If you don’t have it, then maybe law school isn’t for you.

About The Frugal Law Student

The Frugal Law Student is for anyone trying to mitigate their crippling debt. Me? I'm trying to mitigate the tens of thousands of dollars I've taken on in student loans. Join me on my quest to avoid taking on more debt, paying off some of the debt I have, and trying to survive law school while doing it. Read more about The Frugal Law Student, check out some of the best articles, or become a subscriber via RSS feed or via email